Falcons Defeated By Owls In Conference Action

Westfield, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Women's Basketball team dropped a 110-67 decision to the Owls of Westfield State University this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Woodward Center.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 67, Westfield State 110

Records: Fitchburg State (3-15, 1-5 MASCAC) I Westfield State (10-9, 3-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

1st quarter

Westfield State raced out to an 18-0 advantage to open the contest, capped by a jumper from junior Olivia Hadla (Westfield, Mass.) before Fitchburg State answered with a pair of buckets by freshman Juliana Davis (Templeton, Mass.) to make the score 21-4.

The Falcons cut the lead to 26-10 as sophomore Stephanie Hart (Shirley, Mass.) and Davis hit layups, but the Owls took a 31-14 margin as sophomore Maddie Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) hit a three-pointer,

2nd quarter

The Owls upped the lead to 35-14 with junior Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) netting back-to-back baskets before the Falcons responded as Hart notched a jumper, while junior Olivia Almeida (Wilmington, Mass.) drained a trey ball to reduce the lead to 37-19.

Fitchburg State continued to battle as Hart added another jumper and sophomore Rylie Harlow (Hanson, Mass.) drilled a three-pointer (46-25), but Westfield State took a 52-30 lead into the break on a pair of free throws by Grant.

3rd quarter

Following the intermission, Westfield State upped the lead to 57-30 with freshman Octaviana Williams (Springfield, Mass.) connecting on a jumper, but Fitchburg State answered back as Almeida buried a pair of three balls to cut the lead to 65-42.

Almeida would notch a jumper to trim the lead to 72-48 before the Owls pushed the advantage to 84-52 as junior Jess Gardner (Webster, Mass.) sank two free-throws.

4th quarter

The Falcons opened the fourth frame with a basket from senior Lindsay McDonald (Stoughton, Mass.) and an Aliza Som (Lowell. Mass.) three-pointer to cut the lead to 86-57, but the Owls responded with a Williams bucket (97-60).

Westfield State extended the lead to 110-64 on a jumper from newcomer Kiki McNary (Brattleboro, Vt.) before sophomore Allison Prentiss (Marshfield, Mass.) connected on a three-pointer for the Green and Gold, resulting in the 110-67 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons were led by Davis with a team-best 13 points, one rebounds, one assist and one steal
• Almeida added 13 points, three caroms and three assists
• For the Owls, Grant finished with a game-leading 29 points, three boards, one assist and three steals
• Pond chipped in with 14 points, five rebounds, one assist and two steals
• This evening's contest marked the 80th meeting between the Falcons and the Owls on the hardwood with Fitchburg State 14-66 all-time when taking on Westfield State
• Fitchburg State shot 24-for-61 (39.3%) from the field and (8-of-22) 36.4% from downtown
• Westfield State went 42-of-87 (48.3%) overall and (11-for-33) 33.3% for beyond the arc
• Owls finished with a slim 44-43 margin on the glass

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Elms to take on the Blazers in non-conference action, starting at 1:00 PM.